Machine for loading cartridges.



w. l. MACOMBER. MACHINE FOR LOADING CARTRIDGES.

APPLICATION. FILED FEB. 3.1917.

1,282,609. Patented 001;. 22, 1918.

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W. l. MACOMBER.

MACHINE FOR LOADING CARTRIDGES.

Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

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MACHINE FOR LOADING CARTRIDGES.

APPLICATION FILED ram-3. I911.

Patented Oct. 22, 191 8.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

W. I. MACOMBER.

MACHINE FOR LOADING CARTRIDGES.

APPLlCATlON HLED FEB. 3,1917. 1,282,609. Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

I2 SHEETSSHEET 6.

W. I. MACOMBER.

MACHINE FOR LOADING CARTRIDGES.

APPLICATION FILED ma. 3. 1917.

1,282,609. Patented 00t.22,1918.

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%%WJM S HIE SH/3 R Q Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

W. I. MACOMBER.

MACHINE FOR LOADING CARTRIDGES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3. l9l7.

w. I. MACOMBER.

MACHlNE FOR LOADING CARTRIDGES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.3.19\1.

Patented Oct. 22; 1918.

I2 SHEETS-SHEEI H).

fnveni'or @f zz, FZM 151 1 07 72123! W. I. MACOMBER.

MACHINE FOR LOADING CARTRIDGES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. a. l9l7.

1 282,609. Patented Oct. 22, 1918. l2 SHEETS-SHEET H- I n S E I84 l lii--| i IL V AW s 256 w T 2.7 52+ 7 ,-----w F9340. 67 if? W. l. MACOMBER.

MACHINE FOR LOADING CARTRIDGES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3. 1.9}7. 1,282,609. Patented 0ct.22,1918.

l2 SHEETSSHEET l2- J72 venior:

diiorvz e UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM I. MACOMBER, 0F CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK G. ROWLEY, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND.

MACHINE FOR LOADING CARTRIDGES.

Application filed February 3, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM I. MACOMBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cranston, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Loading Cartridges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for loading shells, and its essential objects are to automatically, and in a single machine, insert into a shell the powder charge and bullet, bullets, or pellets, and clamp the bullet in the shell; to load the shell at a maximum speed; to save time, labor, and consequent expense; to automatically correct any false position of the empty shell or the bullet before they are submitted to the loading operations whereby clogging or breaking of the mechanism is avoided; to automatically in sort the empty shell into the shell carrier disk; to insure the shell against tilting after introduction into the carrier disk; to insure an accurate delivery of the bullet to the shell concentrically of the latter; to avoid destruction of the shell and injury to the machine; to positively feed the powder charge into the empty shell rather than fill the same by gravity, to the end that a complete charge shall be insured in each shell; to deliver the loaded shells uniformly in a position that will prevent marring or denting thereof; to insure that the machine automatically stop instantly if an unloaded shell be absent from its seat in the carrier disk, or if no bullet for a shell is present, or if the powder charge of a shell is absent or inadequate.

Further objects of my invention will appear from the drawings and the following description.

To the above ends my invention consists in such parts and combinations of parts and mode of operation of parts as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and which illustrate the principles of this invention and the best mode now known to me of applying those principles,

Figures 1 and 2 are front and end elevations respectively of my machine,

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, sections on lines 33, 44, 5-5, and 66, respectively of Fig. 1,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

Serial No. 146,391.

Figs. 7 and 8, a plan view and vertical central section respectively of the shell conveyer,

Fig. 9, a section on line 99 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 10, a detail elevation of the shell clasp taken at a different angle from that shown in Fig. 8,

Fig. 11, a transverse section of the same,

Figs. 12, 13, and 14, sections on lines 12-12, 1313, and 14-14 respectively of Fig. 7

Fig. 15, a section of certain parts on line 15l5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 16, a section of the powder feeding device on line 16-16 of Fig. 15,

Fig. 17, a section of the same on line 1'717 of Fig. 15,

Fig. 18, a front elevation of the powder feeding mechanism,

Fig. 19, a section on line 19-19 of Fig. 18,

Fig. 20, a plan view of the powder funnel vibrator,

Fig. 21, a section of the powder funnel engaging a shell taken on line 2121 of Fig.

Fig. 22, a detail view of the powder funnel actuating cam,

Fig. 23, a partial section on line 23-23 of Fig. 1 showing the powder detector in side elevation,

Fig. 24, a sect-ion of the bullet disk and feed on line 2424 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 25, a detail view of the bullet carrier locking cam,

Fig. 26, a plan of the brake band,

Figs. 27 and 28, a plan and vertical section respectively of the bullet conveyer or rectifier mechanism,

Fig. 29, a section on line 2929 of Fig. 27,

Fig. 30, a plan on line 3030 of Fig. 29,

Figs. 31, 32, 33 and 34, sections respectively on lines 3131, 32 32, 3333 and 3434, respectively of Fig. 27,

Figs. 35, 36, 37 and 38, a front elevation, side elevation, transverse section, and rear elevation respectively of the bullet clasp,

Fig. 39, a section on line 39-39 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 40, a section on line 4040 of Fig. 1,

Figs. 41 and 42, partial sections of the bullet plunger and swaging tools respectively,

Figs. 43 and 44, detail views of the bullet and shell feeding cams respectively,

'a bullet carrier respectively.

Fig. 45, a section on line 4545 of'Fig. 3,

Fig. 46, a front view of the shell extractor,

Fig. 47, a plan partially in section of the hinged portion of the shell carrier abutment,

Fig. 48, a section on line 48-48 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 49, a section on line 4949 of Fig. 48,

Fig. 50, a section on line 50-50 of Fig. 3,

Figs. 51 and 52, side elevations of the terminal loops of the shell and bullet stop motion connections respectively, and

F ig. 53, a transverse section of the post allld sleeve for carrying the bullet feeler ate.

p Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

The frame work of my machine may be of any form best adapted for carrying the operative parts. The form thereof herein shown comprises a base 60 adapted to rest upon a bench or to be supported by legs. A table 61 is supported by corner posts 62 upon the base, and carries upon its ends uprights 64 connected by a cross piece 65. There are suitable bearings 66 on the base for the main shaft 67. The main driving parts of the machine are located between the base and table. In bearings 69 and 70 in the table are rotatably mounted vertical shafts 72 and 73 fast upon which are rotary disks 7 5 and 76 constituting a shell carrier and Both these disks have a step by step rotary motion. The shell carrier is actuated by the main shaft through the following mechanism. Fast on the main shaft is a cam 78 in whose cam channel 79 slides a cam roller 80 upon the end of a lever 81 pivoted at one end to the spindle 72. The free end of this lever is slidably supported by a bridge 82 fixed to the base 60. Fast to the disk spindle 72 is a toothed wheel 83. On the lever is a pawl 84 cotiperating with the cavities 85 of the toothed wheel. The pawl is held in operative connection with the disk 83 by the spring 86 having one end attached to the pawl and the other to the lever 81. The vi-i bration of this lever imparts step by step motion to the shell disk. To reduce momentum of the toothed wheel a brake device is provided consisting of a post 87 upon the base 60 to whose top is fixed by a screw 88, an arm 90, integral with whose end is a split ring 91, in whose ends is an adjusting screw 92. The ring 91 embraces a nut 93 fast on the spindle 72. In order to insure a uniform, positive, and absolute registration of the parts cobperating with the shell carrier, the following intermittent locking device is employed. An edge cam 95 on the main shaft engages a cam roller 96 upon the end of a plate 98 provided with an oblong slot 99 adapted to loosely receive the main shaft. On the plate is a rod 101 pivotally connected with a crank 103 upon a shaft 104 journaled in a housing 105 fixed to the base 60. Upon the shaft 104 is a pinion 106 which engages the teeth 107 of a rack pin 108 slidably mounted in the housing, and having its projecting inner end 109 movable by its actuating cam into marginal slots 85 of the toothed wheel. The pin is withdrawn from the slots, and the cam roller is maintained in engagement with the cam by means of a spring 111 having one end fixed to a pin 112 on the crank, and its other end to a pin 113 on the housing.

The bullet carrier disk 76 has imparted thereto a step by step rotary motion consisting of the following mechanism. A cam 115 upon the main shaft, as shown in Fig. 24, has a channel 116 in which moves a stud or roller 117 upon a lever 118 whose end is pivotally mounted upon the spindle 73 of the carrier. This arm rests upon the bridge 82. Fast upon the spindle is a toothed wheel 120 whose cavities 121 receive a pawl 122 pivoted upon an intermediate portion of the lever 118. The pawl is induced into the cavities by a spring 125 attached at one end to the pawl, and at the other end to the arm 118. The retarding or tensioning device for the disk 76 comprises, as shown in Fig. 26, a split ring 127 embracing the spindle 73, and having its split ends connected by a clamping screw 128. An arm 129 integral with the other end of the ring is fixed by a screw 130 to the top of a post 131 upon the base. The intermittent locking device for the bullet carrier, which is purposed to insure a positive and certain step by step registration of the bullet carrier disk with its cooperating parts, consists, as shown in Fig. 25, of a cam 133 on the main shaft whose edge engages a cam roller or stud 134 upon the end of a plate 135 provided with a longitudinal slot 136 adapted to span the shaft. On this plate is a rod 138 attached to a crank 139 upon a rock shaft 140 mounted in the housing 141 having a pinion 142 engaging the teeth 143 of a rack pin 144 slidably mounted in the housing, and whose end 145 is movable into the marginal cavities of the wheel 120 by the operation of the cam upon the main shaft. The pin is intermittently withdrawn from the cavities between the teeth by a spring 146 having its ends fixed to a pin 147 in the crank, and a pin 149 at the base of the housing.

Shells are arranged and successively fed to the shell carrying disk as follows: Fast upon the cross piece 65, as shown in Fig. 1, is a circular plate 151 provided with a central opening 152 registering with an opening 153 in the cross piece. Integral with the plate is a hollow post 155 embraced by the neck 156 of a conical hopper 157 containing a supply of empty shells. Slidable in the post 1s a reclprocating tube 159 extending below the cross piece and fast to a cross head 160 which carries a horizontal pin 161 movable in a vertical slot 162 in one of the uprights 64. Pivotally connected with the end of the pin 161 is a connecting rod 163 attached to a crank 165 fixed to the end of a shaft 166 rotatably mounted in the bearings 167 upon the uprights 64. The shaft 166, as shown in F ig. 4, is driven by a sprocket wheel 170 fast to the main shaft through a chain 171 engaging a sprocket wheel 172 upon a shaft 173 mounted in a bearin 174, attached to the lower face of the table 61. Upon the shaft 173 is a second sprocket wheel 175 driving the chain 176, engaging a sprocket wheel 177 upon the shaft 166, as shown in Fig. 1. The described driving mechanism serves to vertically reciprocate the tube 159 from a point below the top of the post 155 to a point in the hopper, thus cotiperating with the inclined wall of the hopper to agitate the shells and induce them successively downward. Fixed to the upright 64 below the cross head is a support 179 rigidly holding a tubular guide 180, which telescopes the tube 159 and extends into the post forming a conductor section. The lower portion of the guide has a vertical slot 181 of sufiicient breadth to permit the passage therethrough of an upright shell. Embracing the guide is a clasp which, as shown in Figs. 8, 10, and 11, consists of a vertically disposed fixed hinge member 183 fast to the guide having shoulders 184 in which is fixed a pintle 185, upon whose ends are pivoted curved arms 187 and 188; arms 187 being fixed to a substantially semi-cylindrical shell 189, and the arms 188 being fixed to a similar shell 190. These hinged sections are pressed around the guide by means of a spring 192 upon the pintle with its ends pressing against the outer faces of the sections. The adjacent vertical margins of the sections are cut away for some distance forming a vertical opening 193, at the upper end of which are laterally extending cavities 194. The sections yield to permit an empty shell to be drawn out of the lower end of the guide, and the cavities 194 are provided to facilitate the delivery of a reversed shell.

It is essential that the shell to be operated upon should be delivered to its carrying disk 75 with its head or closed end downward. In order to insure this result. there is interject-ed into the path of the shell the following described mechanism for conveying the shells in succession, and for reversing any shell end for end which may initially have begun its travel from the hopper with its closed end upward rather than downward. This mechanism, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, comprises in a general way a circular conveyer member 196, with radially disposed openings 197, and a central open ing or bearing 198. This member is rotatable with its periphery in slidable contact with a rim 199 fixed to a circular base 200 by screws 201 or otherwise. The lower face of the member 196 rests upon the base 200 which is supported upon a bracket 202 upon the uprights 64 referred to. The conveyer member 196 is intermittently rotated, and the parts contributing to this actuation thereof are as follows: Frictionally engaged in the central opening 198 of the conveyer is a split ring 204, which surrounds the upper end 205 of a shaft 206. This shaft is purposed to rotate the member 196 under normal conditions, but as will be later described, the member 196 is intermittently locked, during which period of inaction it is essential that the shaft 206 continue its rotation independently of the member 196. This result is effected by means of the split ring 204 being provided at its adjacent ends with registering tapering threaded holes 208, adapted to receive a screw threaded tapering wedge 210. By screwing the wedge member in and out of the holes any degree of frictional engagen'ient between the member 196 and 204 may be secured. T he rotary split ring is in this instance attached to the shaft 206 by means of either a removable spline or a screw 212. A washer 213 fixed to the upper end of the shaft 206 assists in retaining the member 196 in position. A gear 215 upon the lower end of the shaft 206 meshes with the gear 216 fast on the shaft 217, journaled in the uprights 64. Upon the shaft 217 is a sprocket wheel 218 driven by a chain 219 engaging a sprocket wheel 220 on the main shaft. Thus continuous motion is communicated from the main shaft to the shaft 206. The means for intermittently locking the member 196 during this rotation to produce a step by step motion timed with the shell disk 75 is as follows. The member 196 is provided with an annular series of openings 221, adapted to register with the hole 223 in the base 200. as shown in Fig. 9, in which hole is slidably mounted a vertical pin 225 adapted to intermittently project into one of the openings 221. This pin is normally held with its upper end in one of the openings by virtue of a collar 227 near its upper end against which abuts the end of a helical spring 228. whose lower end rests upon a resultant shoulder 229 in the opening 223. In the bottom of the pin is an opening 230 which loosely receives the end of an arm 231 upon a plate 232 pivoted on a screw 233, fixed in a plate 2334 upon the base 200. Upon one end of the plate 232 is a projection 236 engaging a similar projection 237 upon a lever plate 238, pivoted upon a screw 239, fixed in the outer end of a lever 240, pivoted intermediate its length upon the screw 241 upon the plate 234. To one end of the plate 238 is fixed the end of the spring 243 attached at its opposite end to a pin 244 in the lever arm 240. The means for pulling the pin 225 out of its seat in one of the holes 221 is as follows: The outer end of the lever arm 240 is pivotally connected with the yoke portion 246 of the vertical rod 247 to whose lower end, as shown in Fig. 3, is fixed a rod 248 fast to a head 249. This head is vertically reciprocable on guide rods 250 through openings 251 in the head. The guide rods are rigid on a block 253 fixed to the top of the table adjacent the shell carrying disk. The head, as shown in Fig. 40, is fast to the top of a rod 254 which passes through openings 255 and 256 in the base and table respectively. Upon the lower end of the rod 254 is a plate 257 provided with a central opening 258 to loosely embrace the driving shaft 67. Upon the opposite faces of the plate 257 at opposite ends are cam rolls 259 and 260 engaging respectively cams 261 and 262 fixed to the driving shaft. These cams serve to positively reciprocate the head, and through the described lever connections intermittently depress the pin 225 and unlock the shell conveyer member 196 so that said member has a step by step motion. The empty shells are received in the disk 196 through the tube 180 as follows when the shell has its head or closed end directed downwardly. The head enters one of the slots 197 of the member 196 at one end thereof and rests upon the face of the base 200. The rotary movement of the member 196 draws the empty shell out of the lower end of the tube 180 through the slot 181 thus distending the plates 189 and 190 and permitting passage through slot 193. The empty shell is at this instance in vertical position, and it is essential that it be laid down in a horizontal plane with its closed end adjacent the periphery of the member 196. This is accomplished by gravity in conjunction with an arcuate groove or angular recess 264 in the base 200, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. That is to say, the head of the shell rests upon the marginal portion 266 of the cavity 264, and the weight of the shell tilts and throws it upon its side into the radial slot 197 in which position the shell is then carried in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 7 to a curved discharge opening 268 in the base 200 at its periphery, where the weight of the head impels the shell head-first clownwardly through a guide 270 whose upper end is fixed to the bottom of the base 200, and whose lower end leads to a point adjacent the shell carrier 75. When, however, the shell leaves the hopper with its open end downwardly directed, and it is therefore necessary to reverse its position before it reaches the shell carrying disk, the course of the shell is as follows. It enters the radial slot 197 with its open end in contact with the marginal portion 266 of the base 200,

and by gravity and the recess 264 is tilted and thrown upon its side with its open end toward the periphery of the member 196. It is essential, however, that the shell be reversed before it is delivered to the guide 270. This result is efi'ected as follows. During the rotation of the member 196, the head of the shell falls by gravity into the broad end 272 of an inclined tapering arcuate slot 27 3. The slot or groove extends from a point near the center of the base to a Joint 274 near the periphery thereof. The la ter portion is the most narrow and shallow; and adjacent this portion is a somewhat deeper portion or cavity 275. The described initial position of the shell is shown in broken lines in Fig. 12, with its open end elevated somewhat above the plane of the upper face of the member 196. The shell, in this position, is carried into contact with a shoulder 277 upon a cam shaped plate 278 fixed to the wall 199 and extending in a horizontal plane over the top of the member 196. From the shoulder 277 the cam plate has a portion 280 corresponding with the curve of the channel 273. The shell, after its initial contact with the shoulder 277 is gradually elevated, as shown in Fig. 13, until it assumes a vertical position head down which it maintains until the head reaches a narrow marginal surface 282 adjacent the auxiliary angular cavity 275 whereupon the head drops into the latter cavity by gravity and the shell falls upon its side with the head toward the periphery of the conveyer. Thence the latter moves the shell along the upper surface of the base 200 until it reaches the opening 268 in the latter, and follows the course of the shell already described.

The shell carrier disk 75, as shown in Fig. 15, is provided with upper and lower peripheral flanges 285 and 286 having respectively semi-circular marginal cavities 287 and 288. In the present instance, the cavities 287 are of less diameter than the cavities 288 to accommodate shells of greater diameter at their closed ends than at their open ends. Otherwise, shells of this character might be so unstable in the carrier as to interfere with successful automatic operation upon the shell. The shells are retained in the marginal cavities of the carrier 75 by a circular abutment or wall 290 contacting with the periphery of the flanges, and is fixed to the table by screws 291 in its base flange 292. This abutment extends around the major portion of the carrier, but a portion thereof is omitted to permit access to the carrier of certain feeding and discharge devices. The table is provided below the carrier member with a supporting surface 294 for the head of the shell as it is being impelled by the carrier.

The shells as they descend through the tube 270 are positioned vertically adjacent the flanges of the carrier 75. The lower end of the tube, as shown in Fig. 15, is cut away to form a vertical opening 296 adjacent the carrier, and of slightly greater length than the length of the shell. The shell is automatically delivered from this tube through the opening into the carrier cavities as follows. Partially surrounding the lower end of the tube 270 is a wall or housing 297 fixed to the table 61 and provided in its lower and extended portion 299 with a bore 300 which registers with the opening 301 in the wall of the tube 270. In the bore 300 is slidably mounted a plunger 302 carrying a pin 303 movable in a slot 304 in the housing. The plunger is normally held out of contact with the shell by a helical spring 306 having one end bearing against the housing and its other end against a shoulder 307 upon the plunger. The plunger is intermittently advanced against the successive shells as follows:

Upon a stud or post 309 in front of the member 75, as shown in Fig. 3, is pivotally mounted a lever 310 in one end of which is an elongated slot 312 through which loosely passes the pin 303. Upon the other end of the lever is a cam roll 313 engaging the face 314 of a cam 315 on a depending arm 316 fixed to the head 249 and shown in Fig. 44. Since the head 249 vertically rec iprocates, as heretofore described, the plunger is forced successively against a shell at each step in advance of the shell carrier and inserts the shell into its seat.

The carrier disk advances the shells as they are successively introduced thereto ,into a position to facilitate the reception of a powder charge therein. The mechanism for inserting the charge of powder is as follows: Upon the rear portion of the table is fixed by screws 318 the flange 319 of a support comprising a vertical arcuate housing wall 320 provided with a circular top 321 having an oblong slot 322, shown in Fig. 15. Fixed to the top 321 by screws 324, or otherwise, is a block, housing, or casing 325 integral with the top of which is a hollow post or tube 326 embraced by the neck 327 of a hopper or funnel 328 adapted to hold a supply of powder. Rotatable in the upper portion of the casing 325 is a shaft 331 to whose upper portion is fixed an agitator 333 comprising inclined radial blades 334 in slidable contact with the upper surface'of the memher 325 which constitutes the bottom of the driven by a chain 346 engaging a sprocket wheel 347 upon the shaft 166, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus the member 333 is continuously rotated. The powder agitated by this member passes through a downwardly inclined chute 349 in the block 325 which chute registers with the opening 322 in the wall 321. The agitator insures a uniform density of the descending powder and thus contributes to insure a uniform amount of powder in the shells. An air pipe 350 is fixed in the. top 325 of the support and is provided upon its lower side with perforations 351 opening into the upper portion of the powder chute 349. Air through this pipe, as shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 17, forces the powder downwardly through the chute into two adjacent holes 353 of an annular series of charge holes in a rotary disk 354 resting upon a plate 355 fast to a block 356 attached to the table 61 and constituting a. part of the support. The air current is a positive means and insures a complete charging of the holes 353. Since the air is forcing the powder into certain of the holes 353, it is obvious that an escape of the air must be afforded after its work of impelling the powder has been performed. This escape is provided by attenuated passages 357 in the disk 354 leading from the holes 353 to the 5 periphery of the disk, and connecting with the annular series of larger openings 358 in the wall 320 through an oblong groove 359 in said wall connecting the larger openings. The radial passages 357 being of less diameter than the powder grain, the air is permitted escape without interfering with the descent of the powder. The disk 354 has a step by step movement timed with the movement of the shell carrier which brings the holes 353 successively and intermittently into registration with the opening 360 in a tube or funnel 361 slidably mounted in a discharge opening 362 in the plate 355, as shown in Fig. 19. In alinement with the funnel is an opening 363 in the top 321 of the housing in which opening is a pipe 364 provided with a valve 365 adapted to control the admission of air through the openings 363, 353, and 360. The air through the pipe 350 is continuous, and the air through the pipe 364 is, because of the valve 365, intermittent. The construction of the valve and the means for controlling its action will be hereinafter described. The use of pneumatic means for forcing the powder through the funnel into a shell insures a complete charge therein and by a positive means.

The rotation of the power charge disk 354 already referred to is effected through a shaft 368 fast to the disk, rotatably mounted in a bearing 369 on the table 61, as shown in Fig. 15. Upon the lower end of the shaft is fixed a pinion 370 engaging and driven by a gear 371 rotatably mounted on a stud 372 fixed in a support 374 upon the base 60. Pivoted at one end to the stud 372 is a lever arm 376 to an intermediate portion of which is pivoted a pawl 377 engaging the teeth 378 of the gear 371, as shown in Fig. 4. The pawl is maintained in engagement with the teeth by a spring 380 fixed at one end to the pawl, and at the other end to a pin 382 upon the lever. Upon the free end of the lever is 10 pivotally attached the connecting rod 383 of an adjustable crank disk 384 fast to the main "shaft 67.

The powder charge disk 354 is locked at the end of each of its step by step movements by the following mechanism similar to the locking mechanisms already described. This comprises, as shown in Fig. 15, a slotted plate 386 embracing through its slot 387 the main shaft, and carrying upon its outer end a stud or cam roll 389, and upon its 0pposite end a rod 390 pivotally connected with a crank 391 whose shaft 392 is journaled in an upright housing 393 fixed to the top of the base plate 60. A pinion 394 fast to the shaft engages the teeth 395 of a rack pin 396 whose end 397 enters the cavities 398 of a locking disk 399 fast to the spindle 368. A spring 400 has one end attached to a pin 401 upon the crank arm 391, and its other end attached to a pin 402 fixed to the housing 393 by which means the cam stud is kept in constant contact with its cam 404 fixed to the main shaft.

The means for furnishing air to the powder charging device may be of any pneumatic character preferred either operated by the machine, or from any other convenient source. In the present instance, the air is supplied by a compressor or blower whose casing 406 is mounted on the table 61, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The shaft 407 of the compressor carries the blades 408, and the casing has leading therefrom a pipe 410 leading to the pipes 364 and 365. The compressor is driven by abelt 414 from a pulley 415 fixed to the main shaft, and engaging a pulley 416 upon the shaft 407.

The means for controlling the intermittent ingress of air through the pipe 364 is as follows: The valve 365 in this pipe is in detail, as shown in Fig. 15, a valve casing 418 in which is a valve cock 419 provided with a port 420. The cock is extended beyond the casing, and has fixed thereto, as shown in Fig. 18, a lever arm 421 provided with a longitudinal slot 422 in which slidably moves a pin 423 upon the bent end 424 of a lever 425 pivoted intermediate its length by a pin 426 to an upright 427 fixed to the casing 321. The free end of the lever 425 rests upon the top of a vertically reciprocating rod 429 whose lower end is fixed to a stud 430 loosely connected with the rear end of a lever 432, pivoted intermediate its length to a standard 434 upon the base 60, as shown in Fig. 23. The opposite end of the lever has pivoted thereto a vertically disposed plate 436 provided with a central longitudinal slot 437 through which passes the main shaft. On opposite sides of the plate at the top and bottom ends thereof respectively are studs or cam rollers 439 and 440, which engage the edges of cams 441 and 442 respectively fixed to the main shaft. These cams vibrate through the lever arms 425 and 421 the valve cock 419. The arm 425 is maintained in contact with the reciprocating rod 429 by means of a helical spring 444 having one end attached to said arm, and the other end attached to a hook 445 upon the casing 321.

After the shells have been received into the disk 75 they are first conveyed to the mechanism for positively introducing the powder charge therein. Each shell is successively presented with its open upper end below the powder funnel 361, as shown in Fig. 18. This funnel has upon its lower end a reduced or frusto conical portion 446 pro- "ided with a series of vertical slots 447 extending upwardly in its wall from its lower edge. These slots are of less width than the dimensions of a powder grain, but are of sufficient width to permit the escape of air. This funnel descends into the top of each successive shell, assuming the position shown in Fig. 21, wherein, it will be noted that the open end of the shell extends partially over the slotted portion 4460f the funnel, thus admitting the discharge of powder downwardly, while the air escapes to the atmosphere through the uncovered upper portions of the vertical slots 447.

Provision is made for the vertical reciprocation of the funnel to permit its removal from and introduction into successive shells and to insure such a registration with the shell as to prevent leakage of the powder exterior of the shell. Pivoted upon a pintle 449 in lugs 450 upon the plate 355 is a flat arm 452 provided with an oblong intermediate slot 453. Upon the free end of the arm 452 is a vertical finger 455 carrying upon its inner face a cam roll 456 movable in an irregular longitudinally disposed cam slot 457 in an arcuate cam plate 458 slidably mounted in a guideway 459 in a housing 460 fixed to the plate 355. The funnel 361 extends through the opening 453, and is provided with lateral slots 461 which receives the plate 452 at each margin of the opening 453 whereby the funnel is prevented from axial movement without impediment to its vertical reciprocation. Upon one end of the cam plate 458 is pivoted a link 463 whose opposite end is pivotally connected by a pin 465 to a post 466 fast to a cross head 467, provided with an opening 468 to slidably receive the rod 429. The head rests upon the shoulder 470 upon the rod,

and the head is maintained in contact with the shoulder by a helical spring 471 surrounding the rod, and having one end abutting against the head, and the opposite end abutting against a collar 472 fixed to the upper end of the rod. The cross head is guided in its reciprocation by means of vertical guide rods 473 passing therethrough fast in a block 475 fixed to the table 61, as shown in Fig. 23. Thus it will be seen that the reciprocation of the rod vibrates the cross head and the funnel through the link and cam connections described.

The operation of the mechanisms for impelling the powder into the shell, and for guiding the same are ,relatively timed so that a blast of air is admitted through the valve 365 at the instant that the powder charge in the opening 353 of the powder conveyer disk is presented the valve, above the powder funnel. Thereupon and after an empty shell has been brought into vertical alinement with the funnel, the latter is moved downwardly into the shell and the powder is next thereby blown therethrough into the shell.

After a shell has received its charge of powder, it is conveyed by the disk 75 to a position preparatory to receiving the bullet. The bullet 480 in the present instance is of oblong shape, having a round or pointed end 481 and a blunt base 482, as shown in Fig. 42, in which figure is also shown the usual form of shell 485 comprising a tapering body portion 486, a reduced neck or open end portion 487, and a flange 489 upon its head or base end.

The bullets are fed to the bullet carrying disk 76 in a manner similar to that of feeding the shells to the shell carrier 75. A conical hopper 491 has its reduced neck 492 embracing a hollow post 493 integral with a plate 494, fixed to the cross piece 65, and having an opening 496 registering with an opening 497 in the cross piece." Slidably mounted in the base is a reciprocating tube 498 fixed in a cross head 499 rigid with which is a pin 500 slidable in a vertical slot 502 in the second upright 64. A con necting rod 504 is pivoted to the end of the pin, and to a crank 505 upon the end of the shaft 166 by which mean the tube 498 is reciprocated in the hopper and the individual bullets induced therefrom. Fixed to the upright 64 below the cross head is a support 507 rigidly carrying a tubular guide 508 which extends within the tube 498 and coiiperates with the same to form a bullet conductor. The lower portion of the guide 508 has a vertical slot 510 of dimensions ample to deliver a vertically disposed bullet in a lateral direction. A bullet delivery clasp, as shown in Figs. 35 to 38 inclusive, consists of a vertical hinge shoulder 512 upon the guide having lugs 513 carrying a pintle 514 upon whose ends are pivoted curved arms 516 and 517. The arms 516 are rigid with a curved shell 519, and the arms 517 are fixed to a like shell 520. The shell sections are clasped to the guide by a spring 522 mounted upon the pintle with its ends abutting against the exterior of the sections. The adjacent margins of the sections are cut away to form a vertical opening 523.

It is necessary that the blunt end of the bullet be first presented to the bullet carrying disk. The mechanism for insuring such a position and rectifying the position of any bullet initially introduced into the guide with its pointed end first comprises, as hown in Figs. 27 and 28, a rotatable conveyer member 525 of circular outline having radial openings 526 and a central opening 527. The periphery of this member is embraced by a rim 528 fast to a circular base 529. The bottom face of the member 525 contacts with the base 529 mounted on a bracket 531 fast upon one of the uprights 64. The member 525 is intermittently rotated as follows. A split ring 533 is located in the central opening 527 of the conveyer, and surrounds a sha 't 535, which under normal conditions rotates the member 525. The latter member, however, is intermittently locked, and during the locked interval, the shaft 535 continues to rotate independently thereof. This is permitted by means of a tapering wedge 537 engaging in tapering threaded holes 538 in the adjacent ends of the split ring. The split ring is attached to the shaft 535 by means of a screw 539 or otherwise.

Fixed to the top of the shaft 535 is a washer 540 which overlaps the member 525. A gear 542 on the shaft engages a gear 5143 upon the shaft 217. The intermittent lock ing means for the member 525 includes an annular series of openings 545 adapted to register with the hole 546 in the base 529. In the latter is a slidable pin 547 movable into the openings 545. The pin has a collar 548 near its upper end against which presses a vertical spring 549 whose other end presses against an internal shoulder 550. In an opening 551 in the pin is the end of an arm 553 upon a plate pivoted by a member 555 in a plate 556 upon the base. A projection 557 on this plate engages a projection 559 upon a second plate 560 pivoted on a screw 561 upon a lever 562. The latter is pivoted on a screw 564 in the plate 556. The plate 560 is tensioned by the spring 565 having its opposite ends attached to the lever arm and to the plate itself. The lever 562 ha its end pivotally connected with a yoke portion 569 of the vertical rod 247, the vibration of which already described pulls the pin 547 successively out of the holes 545. The step by step motion of the conveyer 525 will thus be seen to be similar to and timed with the intermittent travel of the shell conveyer 196. A bullet descending through the tubes 498 and 508 enters one of the longitudinal slots of the conveyer disk 525 with its base directed downwardly. The axial movement of the latter member throws the bullet out of the slotted end of the tube through the slot 523 formed in the yielding shells embracing the lower part of the conductor. The upright bullet is thrown into a horizontal position in the slot 526 with its point directed toward the axis of the member by the assistance of an angular recess 570 in the base 529 as shown in Fig. 28. In this position, the bullet is carried in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 27 to an inclined discharge opening 572 in the base; whence, by gravity, the bullet is impelled with its blunt end directed downwardly through a conductor 57 3 whose upper end is fast to the base 529, and whose lower end extends adjacent the bullet carrier 76. If the bullet, however, leaves the hopper point downward, the blunt portion of the bullet by gravity co6perating with the cavity 570 throws the bullet into a horizontal position with its point toward the periphery of the conveyer, as shown in Fig. 27 The bullet is reversed during the rotation of the member 525 by being moved over the end of an arcuate slot 575 which end 576 is of greater depth than elsewhere, but

which gradually grows more shallow and decreases in width as it approaches its opposite end adjacent the periphery of the member 525. At the shallow end of the channel is a deeper cavity 578. When the base of the bullet falls into the cavity 576, the bullet is inclined, as shown in Fig. 31, and as the bullet progresses along the inclined narrowing channel 575, as shown in Fig. 32, the bullet gradually assumes a vertical position until it reaches the cavity 578 where, by gravity, and the shape of the cavity, the bullet is tilted to a horizontal position with the point of the bullet directed toward the axis of the member 525, whereupon the bullet is in position to be discharged through the opening 572 down the conductor 573. The bullet carrier 76 comprises a peripheral flange 580 provided with a series of radial openings 581 forming peripheral rectangular teeth 582. Fixed to the adjacent faces of these teeth, as shown in Fig. 3, are resilient clips or fingers 584 which project slightly beyond the periphery of the flange, and are adapted to receive and frictionally embrace the bullets as they are discharged from the conductor. The lower end of the conductor 573, as shown in Fig. 24, is cut away to form an opening 585 adjacent the flange of slightly greater length than the length of the bullet. This opening is enlarged at its bottom by a cavity 586 to allow passage therethrough of the end of the spring clips. The bullet is automatically inserted into the clips as follows: The lower end of the tube is partially surrounded and rigid in the housing 587 fixed to the table 61 and having an extension 588 provided with a horizontal bore 589 which registers with an opening 590 in the tube. A plunger 591 is slidably mounted in the bore, and has a pin 592 thereon movable in an oblong slot 594 in the housing. A helical spring 595 surrounds the plunger and bears against the extension 588 and against a shoulder 596 on the plunger. This plunger is intermittently advanced against successive bullets, as shown in Fig. 3, by means of a lever 598 provided with a slot 599 through which the pin 592 projects.

This lever is pivoted intermediate its length to a post 600 upon the table and has on its opposite end a cam roll 601 which engages the cam face 602 of a cam plate 603 fixed to the head 249, as shown in Fig. 43. The reciprocation of this head already described advances the plunger, and thus forces the bullet out of the conductor 573 into a pair of the clips 584, whereupon the bullet carrying disk advances a step. The flange of the latter disk overlaps the margin of the shell carrying disk, and is preferably spaced some distance abot'e the latter. The shell carrier 75 and bullet carrier 76 each rotate step by step in the direction of the hands of a clock intermittently bringing their respective seats successively into vertical alinement with each other at the end of each advance. As the shell loaded with its charge of powder reaches a position in vertical alinement with a certain one of the series of bullets carried by the bullet carrier, the bullet is forced down into the open retracted end of the shell by a driving tool or plunger 605 in an opening 606 in the reciprocating cross head 249. This tool is provided in its lower end with a conical centrally disposed cavity 607 to conform to the contour of the pointed or rounded end of the bullet, as shown in Fig. 41. The tool is vertically adjustable by means of nuts 608 and 609 upon the threaded upper and lower portions of the tool, above and below the head 249. The tool reciprocates at the end of each intermittent advance of the bullet carrier.

After the bullet has been inserted into the shell as described, the step by step movement of the disks 75 and 7 6 bring the next holes into alinement and the bullet so inserted is carried to a position below and in vertical alinement with a swaging tool or plunger 614 mounted in an opening 615 in the member 249. This tool has a nut 616 upon its upper end, and is provided upon its exterior lower portion with a thread 

